Borealis Jet Express (BJEX)
BJE | BJ
Group I
Canada
HQ: Toronto Pearson (YYZ)
Bases: Vancouver (YVR) | Montreal (YUL) | Calgary (YYC) | Edmonton (YEG)
Fleet (as of 2022)
Boeing 777-300ER x 21
Boeing 777-200LR x 14
Boeing 777-200ER x 28
Boeing 767-400ER x 49
Boeing 767-300ER x 4
Boeing 767-300F x 10
Boeing 767-200ER x 3 (Corporate/Charter)
Boeing 767-200SF x 6
Airbus A321NEO x 42
Airbus A319NEO x 21
Airbus A321-200 x 39
Airbus A321-100 x 15
Airbus A320-200 x 4
Mitsubishi CRJ-200LR x 28
Historical Fleets
Douglas DC-6 (1955 - 1967)
Convair CV-240/440 (1956 - 1970)
Bristol Britannia (1957 - 1974)
Vickers VC10 (1965 - 1989)
Boeing 727 (1972 - 1993)
Fokker F.28 (1969 - 1997)
Lore
Borealis Jet Express (BJEX) was founded in 1955 following the collapse of wartime airline Imperial Canadian Aviation Corporation (ICAC). The first routes were situated along the St. Lawrence river alongside a single 3-stop transcontinental flight between Vancouver and Montreal. The airline quickly grew internationally launching a vast network of overseas flights utilizing stopover flights on the Bristol Britannia. BJEX was quick to adopt the jet age by purchasing 50 English VC10s to take over long-distance operations. During this renaissance of Canadian aviation, BJEX was well known for First and Business class offerings with an exceptional sense for professionalism. The airline quickly introduced Boeing 727s and Fokker F.28s to create an extensive regional network with heavy growth in the US and Caribbean markets.
With the introduction of the 767 in 1984, BJEX rebranded to Borealis and began a phase out of the classic tuxedo livery. In the years after, a heavy emphasis was placed on fleet modernity with the quick adoption of the early A320 variants as well as subsequent 767 variants. Nearing the Millennium, there was significant concern that the airline would not remain competitive in long haul markets as competing airlines were connecting the continents non-stop with aircraft such as the 747 and MD-11. Following negotiations with Boeing, both the 777 and 767-400ER fleet types were launched and ordered to assert dominance in international markets. Furthermore, Borealis ordered Bombardier CRJ-200s to replace Fokker F.28s and maintain it's small presence in Canadian feeder networks.
In the 2010s, Borealis went through another rebranding adopting the livery that we know today. Additionally the airline placed mass orders for the Airbus A321NEO family as well as the Boeing 777X project. These will be introduced during the 2020s and replace much of the aging fleet. It is unknown what plans the airline has, if any, regarding the replacement of the 767 fleet, however it is rumored that the 767-400ERs and the 767Fs will soldier on until at least 2030.
Borealis is a member of the Elite Airline Alliance as known in the game AirwaySim.